The African Inspiration delivered almost 50,000 tonnes of fertiliser to the Port of Esperance in late June. Photo: Southern Ports

SOUTHERN Ports has set a new fertiliser import record of 539,107 tonnes across its three ports at Albany, Bunbury and Esperance in Western Australia in the year to June 30.

The figure is up 40pc from the 385,356t imported in 2022-23, and includes record fertiliser imports at Albany of 254,941t, up 41pc from 2022-23.

Ports at Albany and Esperance both also handled record-breaking single shipments of fertiliser in June when the Brave Eagle offloaded 31,000 tonnes in Albany before the African Inspiration commenced its discharge of almost 50,000 tonnes in Esperance.

“We were pleased to support agriculture-sector demand and ensure there was enough fertiliser imported to assist with the growing season, including welcoming some of the biggest shipments of fertiliser we’ve seen,” Southern Ports chief executive officer Keith Wilks said.

Caustic soda and fertiliser were the two standout imports for the port authority, with the lithium-containing mineral spodumene breaking its export record for the fourth year in a row.

“Southern Ports has looked to capitalise on new and emerging opportunities which has put us in a position to grow,” Mr Wilks said.

“As the market for spodumene spreads across the globe, we are proud that our ports at Bunbury and Esperance continue to be international leaders in facilitating trade within that market.”

A total of 2.47 million tonnes (Mt) of spodumene left Southern Ports’ ports, comprising more than 1.43Mt from Bunbury and 1.04Mt from Esperance, topping the 1Mt threshold for the first time.

Table 1: Record achieved in FY24. * indicates record for individual ports in their time as part of Southern Ports. Source: Southern Ports

Other individual port records included 1.6Mt of caustic soda imports at Bunbury, and fuel imports at the Esperance of 409,360t, the latter being the highest since 2008.

“Our ports have demonstrated great capability to adapt to unique trade opportunities by supporting projects key to growing our regions, particularly the role we play in enabling a clean energy future.”

This was most evident by the close to 27,000t of break-bulk cargo being imported through the Port of Bunbury, much of which was made up of components for the Albemarle’s Kemerton Lithium Plant expansion and Enel Group’s Flat Rock Wind Farm Project.

“The demand for different commodities is ever changing and as a port authority, it’s our role to be ready to support the demand for trade to market from our regions through our ports,” said Mr Wilks.

“There are always challenges to navigate, but we’re buoyed by these records which show how diverse our ports are.”

A combined 35Mt of trade was facilitated by Southern Ports in 2023-24 across more than 16 commodities, and the nine trade records come on the back of the port authority topping 16 trade records the year prior.

Source: Southern Ports

NOTE: Southern Ports figures do not include bulk or containerised grain, which is handled by CBH at Albany and Esperance, and Bunge at Bunbury.